50 Women of Achievement Recognised by Zonta New Zealand

New Zealand is full of selfless,
courageous women. In this year’s 50th Anniversary of Zonta
Clubs in New Zealand, special recognition has been given to
fifty of these women - Women who have worked hard to focus
their passion, drive and valued time into pursuing a better
place for us to live.

On 8th March 2016, International
Women’s Day, the names of these incredible women, from
around the country, were announced. Their names and
achievements are published on the Zonta New Zealand District
16 website www.zonta.org.nz.

Local clubs will
recognise regional awards at ceremonies to be held around
the country.

Eleven of the recipients were nominated from
the Zonta Wellington Club.

They are:

Dame
Margaret Sparrow For her work as sexual health
pioneer and a long term advocate for women’s rights to
abortion and contraception.

Lynn
McKenzie Made ONZM for services to women, Lyn was
the first New Zealander to be Zonta’s International
President 2012 2014 and currently serves as the Chairman of
their International Nominating Committee

Beverly
Shore-Bennett As a founder member of Zonta
Wellington Club and a long history of working to improve the
lives of women and girls

Dame Miriam
Dell For her work in promoting women’s
advancement and equal rights in society.

Vanisa
Dhiru For her work in women’s ethnic and youth
sectors

Celia Wade-Brown As Mayor of
Wellington and her commitment to the empowerment of women
and to the elimination of violence against women and
children.

Marilyn Waring For her
dedication to advancing the status of women internationally.
And as the principal founder of feminist
economics

Jean Fleming For her work as
Advocate of women in the field of Science.

Dr
Jilly Evans For her promotion of women in
science-based careers, for her work in finding ways to
alleviate childhood poverty,

Helen
Clark For her outstanding contribution to promoting
gender equality and women’s active political, economic,
and social participation

Heather
Henare For her work towards the elimination of
violence towards Women and Children.

“These Awards are a
fantastic opportunity to recognise the inspirational women
in our lives and to celebrate their contribution to making a
difference to the lives of women and girls”, says Dr
Janette Irvine, Governor of Zonta New Zealand. Dr Irvine
goes on to say, “Zonta is a global organisation and
envisions a world in which women’s rights are recognised
as human rights and every woman is able to achieve her full
potential. In such a world, women have access to all
resources and are represented in decision making positions
on an equal basis with men. In such a world, no woman lives
in fear of violence.”

Background
information: In November 1965, 50 years ago, the
first Zonta Club in New Zealand and Australia was
established - the Zonta Club of Auckland. Since that time
Zonta in New Zealand has grown. Today there are 28 clubs
located from Whangarei to Dunedin, all working together to
empower women locally, nationally and internationally
through service and advocacy.

Criteria for the
Award: Women eligible to be nominated are those
who:

1. Are living, and are a New Zealand citizen or
resident, and

2. Demonstrate an active commitment to
volunteerism, leadership and a significant contribution to
empowering women and girls in New Zealand and/or globally.

3. Women who are deceased (and who passed away in the
last 50 years – i.e. after 1 January 1966) are also
eligible for nomination if during their lifetime, they were
a New Zealand citizen or resident, and demonstrated the
attributes in 2. above.

4. Members of Zonta and members
of the general public may be
nominated.

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